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The part I find most confusing is that we really can't "reload" via free agency this summer. Our needs are a solid #1-2 defenseman and a top-6 scorer. Very few options will be available. Maybe it all works out. I'm not a fan of being mediocre for a few years to have a chance at being good later. I'm glad we still have all of our prospects. Nyquist and Tatar are very good players, but the way Babcock is set on playing them on the 3rd and 4th lines just won't work. They're top-6 players. They need to play with talent to be useful.

Great first post. I agree completely. If I'm Holland and I'm at the negotiation table - I use these contracts along with the fact that the cap has dropped to point out that Flip is not a 5mill player. If he still thinks he is that valuable then we ship him out in a package for something of value. The WORST thing Holland can do is start handing out overpaid contracts to players and capstrapping this team. He has done enough with signing veterans with NTCs.

Thanks! I've been lurking and reading since '08, but never got around to posting. For him to be worth $5 million he needs a sniper alongside him.

I've liked Flip for years. He has the potential to be so good, but he just hasn't proved he'll get there. He's good defensively with quick hands and some nice moves. His shot is better than you think, but he almost never shoots anyway. He has flashes of Datsyuk-like brilliance, but then those few moments are overshadowed by him trying to make too many moves or passes.

He's a great player, but comparing him to other centers playing for around $5 dollars doesn't work out. Other forwards with a $5 or so cap hit are:

Bobby Ryan

Ryan Kesler

Patrice Bergeron

James Neal

Mike Ribeiro

Flip just hasn't proved that he is as good as these guys. He isn't there yet, and is running out of time to get to that level.

I've wanted to keep him, but at $5 million? No. Not when he could be packaged for someone better. Flip + a defenseman + a pick would get a much better player than Flip currently is. Thats a solid package. Sure, it isn't gonna get Ovechkin or Weber. But it could make the Rangers or Ducks think about giving up Gaborik or Ryan. We need a solid #1-2 defenseman and a scorer. Depth on the bottom six? We're good. Get Helm back and our bottom six is taken to a new level.